CHAPTER 404: CHAPTER 403: WANTED CRIMINAL_1

"You confounded boy! Of all things, you had to collude with the Demon Cult. Normally, I wouldn’t have lifted a finger to save you." Hong Xixiang glanced at Ling Chen, shaking his head. "But for Tianyu’s sake, I’ll make an exception this time. After all, Tianyu has contributed greatly to the Sect and is a close friend of mine. I couldn’t stand to see his bloodline end."

Hearing this, Ling Chen smiled and shook his head, then asked, "Putting my situation aside for a moment, I want to ask you, Great Elder, what do you think of Shentu Yan?"

Hong Xixiang furrowed his brows but still answered Ling Chen, "Shentu Yan is a man of limited tolerance and mediocre abilities. However, he’s an honest and sincere person. With him as Sect Leader, the Divine Intent Sect may not rejuvenate, but it can barely maintain its current situation."

An honest man? Ling Chen fought back a laugh. It seems that, in the eyes of most people, Shentu Yan’s image is truly deeply ingrained.

"What if I told you he’s a massively evil individual, Great Elder, would you believe me?"

"I wouldn’t." Hong Xixiang shook his head. "Right now, you can’t even clear yourself of the suspicion of colluding with the Demon Cult. Accusing Shentu Yan of being wicked sounds more like a personal grudge. Are you resentful because he insists on punishing you according to the Sect rules?"

"Moreover, Shentu Yan has a reputation for Unparalleled Benevolence. He enjoys helping others; this is something everyone in Jianghu knows. You can’t overturn the entire Jianghu’s evaluation of Shentu Yan with just your words. Impossible."

"Alright."

There’s no point in saying anything more, Ling Chen thought. No one will believe me. If I want to unmask Shentu Yan, I’ll probably have to do it myself.

"Great Elder, I am eternally grateful for your help. However, I must still warn you: be careful of Shentu Yan. This man is a wolf in sheep’s clothing, and he is even more dangerous than Demonic Path Followers."

After Ling Chen finished speaking, he cupped his hands towards Hong Xixiang. "That’s all I have to say. Farewell!"

Further dialogue is pointless, he thought. My warning can only go this far. Whether Hong Xixiang listens or not is his own affair.

Upon hearing Ling Chen’s words, Hong Xixiang furrowed his brow. Although I don’t believe what he said, I have a feeling Ling Chen isn’t lying.

I’ll wait and see for now, Hong Xixiang decided, still keeping a Mind’s Eye. To be safe, I can observe Shentu Yan secretly. If anything unusual happens, it won’t be too late to make a decision then.

WHOOSH! Hong Xixiang vanished into the night.

「The following day.」

On the border of the Wind Country stood a small, remote town.

It was located at the boundary between the Wind Country and the Earth Country. Few people usually came and went, because further east lay the territory of the Earth Country, a land ruled by the Demon Path Sects.

Generally, martial artists from the Righteous Sects would not easily set foot in the Earth Country’s territory.

However, this place was also frequented by many powerful individuals. After all, Demonic Path Followers often appeared here, and conflict could erupt at any moment.

A long line of people queued outside the city gate, waiting to enter.

Among them was a young man wearing a Dou Li.

The young man, dressed in blue with a long sword at his waist, was Ling Chen, who had fled from the Divine Intent Sect and traveled south.

Even though I’ve escaped from the Divine Intent Sect, what should I do next? Ling Chen wondered.

The Divine Intent Sect was my home, but now, I can’t go back.

"Hurry up, you lot at the back!" a shout came from the city guards at the gate ahead.

Ling Chen looked towards the sound and saw one of the guards holding a wanted poster. He glanced at it from a distance; the person depicted was indeed him.

Ling Chen lowered his head, pulling his Dou Li down further.

The entire Martial World was now hunting him. Shentu Yan had issued a Sect bounty, branding him a traitor, expelling him from the Divine Intent Sect, and offering a substantial reward for his capture.

Ling Chen was now an outcast from his Sect, a pariah of the Righteous Path. Many so-called righteous martial artists likely wanted to take his life.

After all, he was the champion of this year’s martial arts tournament. He had experienced many fortuitous encounters and possessed extraordinarily strong luck—the Dragon Vein Luck. If someone killed Ling Chen, they could seize this Dragon Vein Luck for themselves.

Previously, Ling Chen was a renowned genius of the Righteous Path, and many were wary of acting against him. But now that he was a wanted fugitive in the Jianghu, killing him had become a "righteous" act.

Such an act, bringing both fame and fortune, would surely tempt many. Countless wanderers in the Jianghu were probably already searching for Ling Chen.

Even providing a mere lead to Ling Chen’s whereabouts could earn a hefty bounty.

It seems entering the city normally will be difficult. I’ll have to use other means, Ling Chen mused.

Just as his turn approached, he suddenly flipped his hand, revealing a stack of Silver Bills. He tossed them into the air, and they scattered.

"Silver Bills! It’s Silver Bills!"

"Quick, grab them!"

Everyone except Ling Chen scrambled to grab the falling Silver Bills, causing chaos at the city gate. Even the city guards stooped to pick them up, forgetting everything else.

Seizing the opportunity, Ling Chen moved. Executing the Wind Shadow Step, he appeared behind the distracted city guards in an instant and slipped into the city.

What a strong gust of wind! one of the city guards thought, feeling a breeze rush past but seeing no one. He didn’t think much of it, assuming it was just an odd gust.

Ling Chen made his way to the largest inn in the city and found a secluded table.

"Shopkeeper, two jars of wine," Ling Chen said in a low voice, beckoning him over.

"Right away, sir! Please wait a moment." The Shopkeeper didn’t pay Ling Chen’s attire much mind. Plenty of people dressed similarly in a place like this; it was nothing to make a fuss about.

Soon, the Shopkeeper brought two jugs of wine.

Ling Chen didn’t even glance at them before unsealing one jug, lifting it, and pouring the wine straight down his throat, gulping it down.

As the wine settled in his stomach, a warm sensation spread through Ling Chen.

It’s a shame. In this vast world, there’s nowhere for me to go, Ling Chen thought. He was now hunted by the entire Righteous Martial World. In the future, wherever he went, he would likely have to remain hidden, unable to appear openly in the Jianghu again.

The Jianghu is vast, yet I have no place to call my own.

A bitter smile touched Ling Chen’s lips as he picked up the wine jug again and drank deeply.

Just then, a figure suddenly appeared in the seat opposite him. A familiar, pleasant female voice sounded in his ear, "What’s the fun in drinking alone? Let me join you."

As the words fell, the other wine jug was unsealed. The newcomer also lifted the jug and began to drink with gusto.